ＨＥＬＬＯ！ Ｉ　ＡＭ　ＱＵＩＺＢＯ™！I am here to assist you with your Japanese language and culture studies alongside my friends Kiki and Koko. This is possible with a segment called: Japanese Word of the Week Wednesday presented to you by Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online’s host, ieindigoeast.com. Every week, we want to make sure to provide as many opportunities to learn as possible. With Monday and Friday so far away, there lies a gap between lessons where you may not be learning anything new. Though, this is not simply about learning new words, this is also a great opportunity for you to go back to previous articles that you may or may not have studied and revising / reviewing. Repetition is the key to learning! You can make it a relaxing session. Listen to some chill music, if you like, or silence is fine as well, whatever assists you in your perfect learning environment. Something as little as location can help you to have a much more pleasant experience. There were many new vocabulary words presented in the previous lessons, but you can take your time, do not allow it to overwhelm you, and take it one step at a time.

If you would like to learn how to apply these words to your own basic sentences, feel free to take a look at a few of Kiki and Koko’s articles on this subject in Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Japanese Language Essentials.

The Word of the Week segment is meant to give you a good amount of information no matter your skill level. If you cannot read Japanese, or if you simply need a way to encode it into your memory, I will read each word aloud to assist you with pronunciation. Assisted at times by Kiki and/or Koko, I will also create sentences with the new word(s).  Though I will read these sentences personally at a normal speed for more advanced learners, it will still help you learn how to use it. You can also apply the usage to other concepts depending on the part of speech. You do not need to repeat after the sentences, but it would be helpful to repeat the initial vocabulary word. And, I will repeat it for you as many times as you wish.

The sentences give context to the different ways words are used, but everyone of every learning level can benefit from seeing sentences in three forms: one with romaji which can assist beginners in initial pronunciation before learning to read; hiragana, in order to learn the reading of the kanji; and its original form using kanji, hiragana,and katana.

This will include a Bonus Word of the Week due to the nature of the word.

We will also be joined again by Kiki and Koko with a Quick Culture Corner, who should take a rest during the middle of the week, but their need to add more to your studies has overpowered the former.

Without further ado, let us NihonGO!!

Word(s) of the Week:

留学【りゅうがく】※ryuugakunoun; suru verb
1. studying abroad

Bonus Word(s) of the Week:

留学生【りゅうがくせい】noun
1. study-abroad student; student studying abroad; exchange student; overseas student

※Quick Culture Corner with Kiki+Koko

Photo via @kikikokoNihonGO on Twitter

Hello, there!

We’re Kiki and Koko from Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! And, we’re going to provide for you a Quick Culture Corner to help add some context to the word. Usually this is directly about the word or a very specific part of Japanese culture, but this is going to be a little different. Think of this as more of a mini-editorial, but it should be interesting and perhaps helpful, we hope.

For many interested in other cultures, whether Japanese students, British students, American students, or anyone else, they may become a ryuugakukibousha,  (留学希望者),  someone who wants to study abroad. Studying abroad, whether in secondary school or university, can be a very interesting and rewarding experience, giving many once-in-a-lifetime firsts. Travelling to another country comes with many challenges, as well. Though everyone may be more similar than we think, it’s undeniable that culture differences can become very apparent. There are small things like the way you’re expected to sit during gym that might seem minute if you’re from outside of Japan. There’s making sure not to eat/drink and walk. But moreover, there’s games, shows, and holidays that shaped people’s views of the world since childhood.

And, at the end of the day, studying abroad and experiencing a culture can really help you see the world from a new perspective, allowing you to have a better understanding to connect with other Earthlings.That’s why we make sure to provide cultural insights from a broader perspective, but when applicable, we also try to tell you the origin to get a more concrete reason why. But, always remember that everyone is an individual with individual experiences that can shape their personal views. So, it’s important to learn the overarching norm, but also important to connect with individuals on an individual level.

But, if you’re interested in experiencing another culture, you don’t have to feel forced to study abroad, either, as you may be surprised with how many people have travelled to your country. You can even travel to their respective towns where you can experience a little bit of culture and a lot of people. Of course, you wouldn’t want to bother or objectify people, but there are fun microcosms of experiences and many opportunities to ask questions or practise your language skills while still being respective to people as individuals. And, afterall, to some it’s flattering that someone is interested in their culture, but for long term interactions more than in passing, it’s important to be interested in them as more than a source of culture, but as a person, which in turn helps everyone feel more connected on this planet.

It’s all really about communication. And, learning a language is so much more than just words. It’s how, when, kuuki yomi, (空気読み), reading the air, or reading a situation. We’ll continue to try our best to provide more content that should at least prepare you, whether you plan to host a student, study abroad, travel to Japan, understand your friends and/or family, or just broaden your horizons. But, applying that knowledge is up to you! Return and revise / review to make sure you can take it with you anywhere you go.

We hope that helps!! Until the next lesson!
♡Kiki+Koko

Thank you, Kiki and Koko! You gave some good other bonus words, but I would not want to overload anyone with too many vocabulary words, especially after the previous lessons. Now, it is time to read and listen to some sentences which should assist you in using these words in their different contexts.

Example Sentences:

The first row is in Japanese with Kanji. The Next row is in hiragana, then romanised using rōmaji with the final row translated into English.
(Japanese→Hiragana→Rōmaji→English)

Example #1:

火星に留学したかったが、片道切符だけがある。だから、多分ヨーロッパのほうがいい
かせいに　りゅうがくしたかったが、かたみちきっぷが　ある。だから、たぶんよーろっぱのほうがいい。
kasei ni ryuugaku shitakatta ga, katamichi kippu ga aru. dakara, tabun yooroppa no hou ga ii.
I wanted to study abroad on Mars, but there are only one way tickets. So, Europe is probably better.

Example #2:

その韓国人の交換留学生は　英語を習うに来たが、他の韓国人の交換留学生だけと遊んでます。
そのかんこくじんの　こうかんりゅうがくせいは　えいごを　ならうに　きたが、ほかのかんこくじんの　こうかんりゅうがくせいだけと　あそんでます。
sono kankokujin no koukan ryuugakusei wa eigo wo narau ni kita ga, hoka no kankokujin no koukanryuugakusei dake to asondemasu.
The Korean exchange student came to learn English, but they’re only hanging out with other Korean exchange students.

Example #3:

留学したとき、ボクのホストファミリーとクラスメイトはたくさん教えてくれました。
りゅうがくしたとき、　ぼくの　ほすとふぁみりーと　くらすめいとは　たくさんおしえてくれました。
ryuugakushita toki, boku no hosuto famirii to kurasumeito wa takusan oshiete kuremashita.
When I studied abroad, my host family and classmates taught me a lot.

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♡QUIZBO™